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  • The Novice’s Tale

  • A Dame Frevisse Mystery, Book 1
  • By: Margaret Frazer
  • Narrated by: Susan Duerden
  • Length: 7 hrs and 28 mins
  • 4.2 out of 5 stars (50 ratings)

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The Novice’s Tale

By: Margaret Frazer
Narrated by: Susan Duerden
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Summary

Unholy passions and demonic deaths...

In the fair autumn of Our Lord's grace 1431, the nuns of England's St. Frideswide's prepare for the simply ceremonies in which the saintly novice Thomasine will take her holy vows. But their quiet lives of beauty and prayer are thrown into chaos by the merciless arrival of Lady Ermentrude Fenner and her retinue of lusty men, sinful women, and baying hounds. The hard-drinking dowager even keeps a pet monkey for her amusement. She demands wine, a feast....

And her niece, the angelic Thomasine.

The lady desires to enrich herself and her reputation by arranging a marriage for the devout novice. She cares nothing for the panic and despair she leaves behind her.

But all her cruel and cunning schemes are brought to a sudden end with strange and most unnatural murder.

As suspicious eyes turn on the pious Thomasine, it falls to Sister Frevisse, hosteler of the priory and amateur detective, to unravel the webs of unholy passion and dark intrigue that entangle the novice and prove her innocence...or condemn her.

©1992 Margaret Frazer (P)2020 Tantor
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What listeners say about The Novice’s Tale

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Weird narration

I realised part way into the first chapter that I’d heard this narrator before, and couldn’t listen to the whole story, as her intonation is so weird. But I struggled on this time and it got marginally less annoying as the story progressed. But the story was not strong, neither were the characters. Not enough here to tempt me into the rest of the series.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Enjoyable.

"The Novice's Tale" is a short but relaxing and entertaining mystery brimming with fascinating and historically accurate details.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Good story, unfortunate Narration.

The plot and characters are interesting if a little practiced. But the book is spoiled by the weird cadence of the narrator.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Engaging story

Narration was off putting, but the story is written. Characters are well developed, and story line compelling

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Narration..

A nice enough story. Sadly the narrator reads in a very weird way which ruins it.
I will refrain from listening to the other books in the series as I’ve seen it’s the same narrator.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Not a fan of the narrator, sadly :(

Yes, it was about nuns and yes, the writing was pretty laboured in its attempts to be authentically 15th century (or was it 13th?) but the prissy, ovwr-delicate & saccharin narration sent the whole book over the top for me. Guarantee I'd have enjoyed it twice as much if someone like Juliet Stephenson had been given the manuscript. Decent enough story though.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

really enjoyed this book

Think more complex than Ellis Peters Cadfael but less convoluted than Susanna Gregory's Matthew Bartholomew. As I said I really enjoyed.. the narrator grated for a little bit but soon got into her stride and did a good job. would highly recommend to fans of the above or fans of PD James, Ruth Rendell or AC but want to try something different and anybody else interested in trying crime a little gentler than the likes of Val McDermott

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Thank you to reviewers.

Thanks for review. I took a chance on this one and was very pleasantly surprised. The narration was crisp and well paced.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Straight forward crime

Despite horrible deaths, this quite a gently plotted book which proceeds at a pace fitting for a book about nuns.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Good story and well read

Really enjoyed this book and the narration. All the characters are well portrayed. Nice twist at the end too.

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